The Madurai city police seized an unknown explosive device from the busy East Marret Street here on Saturday evening.
An unidentified person is said to have planted the device in the thickly-populated locality.
The incident comes barely a week after the rural police detected a pipe bomb near a popular supermarket in Uthangudi.
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Though eyewitness account said that a petrol can and a timer device were also found along with a soap box, the Vilakuthoon police maintained that it was an improvised device, which was swiftly recovered and defused.
An autorickshaw driver who arrived at the spot to drop a passenger had noticed the device and alerted the police, said A. Ambalam, an employee of a lorry booking service centre, near where the device was found.
Interestingly, the AIADMK party’s ward office, which is closely located, was locked, nearby where the device was found lying close to an electric pole. When contacted, Inspector General and Commissioner of Police Sanjay Mathur said that it was an improvised device.
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“Four batteries, a timer, a packed explosive powder and a switch were found, but it the device was defused immediately. We have formed teams and yet to get good leads,” he added.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (law and order) Samanth Rohan Rajendra visited the spot.
A senior police officer said they were looking at political angle since the device was found near the ward office of the AIADMK. An Inspector of Police suspected that it may be the handiwork of some mischief monger.
Ninth since 2011 It may be recalled that a mysterious object exploded underneath the stage put up by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam at a public meeting in Munichalai last Sunday. This is the ninth incident of explosives found or exploded (twice) in and around Madurai since May 2011. A case has been registered by the Vilakkathoon police in this connection. Investigation is on.